Japanese Conversation · Level 85
60 words
Japanese word
東西
Pronunciation
Romajitōzai
Meaning
- nouneast and west
Example
日本は東西に長いです。nihon wa tō zai ni naga i de su
Japan stretches from east to west.
More examples
この鉄道は日本の東西を結んでいます。ko no tetsu dō wa nihon no tō zai o musu n de i ma su
This railway connects the eastern and western parts of Japan.
Core concept
Covers both the eastern and western directions and the area extending between them.
Common phrases
東西に長いtō zai ni naga i
stretch from east to west
東西に分かれるtō zai ni wa ka re ru
be divided into east and west
東西を結ぶtō zai o musu bu
connect east and west
Definition in Japanese
東の方角と西の方角、またはその間に広がる範囲。higashi no hō gaku to nishi no hō gaku ma ta wa so no aida ni hiro ga ru han i
Word origin
As a Sino-Japanese compound, 東西 (tōzai) joins 東 (tō, "east") with 西 (sai, "west"); the compound changes sai to zai by rendaku.
Usage tips
- The set phrase 東西南北 (tōzainanboku) uses 東西 (tōzai) for east-west and adds north-south, linking the word to the full compass.